Li Lian, Sameer crowned badminton champions

India’s Sameer Verma and Malaysia’s Li Lian Yang clinched the men’s and women’s singles titles respectively on the concluding night of The Victor-Rayan Sports Bahrain International Series 2015 on Sunday at the Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town.

In the men’s singles, top seeded Samee Verma defeated his Indian compatriot Pratul Joshi in a tight three-set match 21-13, 18-21, 21-8.

In the women’s singles, Malaysia’s Li Lian Yang continued her ‘giant-killing’ run; having taken out the top seed, Thi Trang Vu of Vietnam in the semifinal and then beating second seed Saili Rane of India in the final 21-19, 21-17 to take the title.

India won the women’s doubles title with the pairing of S Poorvisha Ram and Arathi Sara Sunil enjoying an emphatic 21-14, 21-8 win over their Pakistani opponents, Palwasha Bashir and Sara Mohmand. Malaysia took the mixed doubles crown as the duo of Yip Jiun Tan and Li Lian Yang proved too strong for the partnership of Artyom Savatyugin from Uzbekistan and Alesia Zaitsava of Belarus, winning 21-17, 21-10.

In the final match of the evening, Malaysia completed a trio of titles when the men’s doubles pairing of Wee Tat Tan and Yip Jiun Tan defeated Pak Chu Chow and Kay Ee Yeoh 18-21, 21-11, 21-16.

Badminton continues tonight with The Bahrain International Challenge 2015 that kicks off at the same venue, featuring over 150 players from 32 countries playing in five different categories.

Results (Finals):

Men’s Singles: Sameer Verma (Ind) (1) bt Pratul Joshi (Ind) 21-13, 18-21, 21-8.

Women’s Singles: Li Lian Yang (Msa) bt Saili Rane (Ind) (2) 21-19, 21-17.

Men’s Doubles: Wee Tat Tan/Yip Jiun Tan (Msa) (4) bt Pak Chu Chow/Kay Ee Yeow (Msa) 18-21, 21-11, 21-16.

Women’s Doubles: S Poorvisha Ram/Arathi Sara Sunil (Ind) bt Palwasha Bashir/Sara Mohmand (Pak) 21-14, 21-8.

Mixed Doubles: Yip Jiun Tan/Li Lian Yang (Msa) bt Artyom Savatyugin (Uzb)/ Alesia Zaitsava (Blr) 21-17, 21-10.

Photo Caption : Women’s Singles champ Li Lian (R) with runner-up Saili